Basketball: Edinburgh Uni men and women into finals

SANDY SUTHERLAND

Edinburgh University clinched their place in two Scottish Basketball Cup finals after two vastly differing semi-final wins at their enforced “home” venue at the Crags Sports Centre, Edinburgh.

After the Edinburgh women swamped Edinburgh Kool Kats 102-54 to ensure they would defend the trophy they won for the first time in February, Edinburgh men outlasted a defiant but toothless Glasgow University 59-46 in the second game played on Sunday.

EU women will be overwhelming favourites when they play first-time finalists St Andrews University in six weeks. Edinburgh men will face either Glasgow Storm or St Mirren.

“That’s easily the best we’ve played this season,” said experienced women’s player Cathy Mitchell, who picked out two players who have come back from anterior cruciate ligament operations, American point guard Sarah Halejian, who scored 21 points, and GB junior cap Hilary Wood who scored seven points.

Edinburgh men ground out a deserved victory after a tough physical encounter with a Glasgow side still reeling from the departure of Spanish point guard Ferran Valle and injury to shooting guard Chris de Sousa who did not play.

Former captain Ben Warrington stepped up for EU with 15 points, Jac St John adding 13, Ron Adrian seven and Roger Watt and Chris Evans six each. It was Evans’ last game before returning home to Canada.

Not one Glasgow player was in double figures although Calum Nicol had 15 rebounds, five blocks and five steals.